Man arrested after shots fired pursuit faces multiple charges

Wednesday

Apr 24, 2013 at 8:15 AM

The suspect arrested following a pursuit that prompted a Shawnee police officer, in fear of his life, to fire three rounds at the vehicle that rammed two patrol units, has been formally charged with five felony counts.

Kim Morava

The suspect arrested following a pursuit that prompted a Shawnee police officer, in fear of his life, to fire three rounds at the vehicle that rammed two patrol units, has been formally charged with five felony counts.

Tommy P. Martin, 30, was formally charged Tuesday in Pottawatomie County District Court.

He was the reported driver of a pickup being pursued by Shawnee Police Sgt. John Goss, who, along with a McLoud police officer, found themselves in danger during that pursuit.

“I was in fear of my life and the McLoud officer's life and I fired three rounds at the vehicle in an attempt to stop the vehicle,” Goss reported.

His actions occurred as Martin allegedly rammed the 1990 Chevrolet pickup he was driving into two patrol cars during that pursuit on April 9.

Prosecutors have charged Martin with endangering others while eluding a police officer, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of malicious injury to property.

Martin is accused of driving the pickup on MacArthur Street at a high rate of speed and failing to stop for Sgt. Goss. For the assault counts, he is accused of assaulting Sgt. Goss as well as McLoud Officer Daniel Lazar.

In the malicious property charges, he is accused of using his pickup to drive into a 2010 Ford SUV, a Shawnee police unit, causing more than $1,000 in damage. He is accused of doing the same to a 2008 Ford car, a McLoud police care, operating by the McLoud officer.

According to police reports, the pursuit began about 11:49 p.m. that night as Goss tried to make the traffic stop on MacArthur Street near Airport Road.

The pursuit continued westbound to northbound U.S. 177, the report shows, where speeds reached more than 100 miles per hour. The report shows the chase continued to westbound Interstate 40, with Martin exiting on SH 102 and going southbound. In that area, he allegedly ran the stop sign to travel Belcher Road around the Shawnee Twin Lakes dam before making a turn onto Pecan Grove Road.

During that part of the chase, Martin lost control of the pickup, causing it to overturn three times, with the truck landing on its wheels and facing Goss' patrol unit, the report shows.

Goss stopped his unit in front of the truck and McLoud Officer Daniel Lazar also stopped his patrol car, with about six feet separating each patrol car.

As Goss exited his vehicle to approach the suspect vehicle, "I heard the driver of the suspect vehicle revving his engine," the report reads.

As Goss ran back to his unit, Martin allegedly drove toward the officers and rammed the patrol SUV as well as the McLoud officer's patrol car, the report shows, so Goss took action and fired three shots from his duty weapon, but the truck continued westbound and then south over an embankment. There, the vehicle got stuck as Goss continued to yell at the driver to stop.

“The driver kept his foot on the gas and his tires were spinning,” the report shows, until there was traction and the pickup went over the embankment into a 20-foot ditch.

The driver traveled another 200 yards before the pickup became stuck in mud. At that point, Martin reportedly jumped out of the vehicle and threw his hands into the air as two McLoud officers took him into custody, the report shows.

Martin, who reportedly suffered minor injuries, was checked at the scene by paramedics before being transported to the Pottawatomie County Public Safety Center.

According to police and court records, Martin has prior felony convictions and numerous traffic violations on his record. If convicted on these five felonies, Martin could face additional punishment because of the former convictions.

The crime of eluding police can be punishable for three years to life in prison, while each of the assault and malicious injury to property counts can be punishable by imprisonment for four years to life.